SCARBOROUGH FAIR GAME FOR MEGGIES

Charlie Tomlinson hits a six at Scarborough.


Peter Fulton smashes another massive six for Cleethorpes against Scarborough.


REPORT AND PICTURES KINDLY SUPPLIED BY GRAHAM HACKNEY

Cleethorpes' 1st X1 suffered contrasting fortunes last weekend when they made tough trips to two of the Yorkshire League’s strongest sides in Scarborough and York. On Saturday they came away with their first win at Scarborough’s North Marine Road ground since 2002 when they notched a superb five-wicket win. Batting second they chased down Scarborough’s competitive 191-8 with nearly eight overs to spare. After Scarborough’s openers had added 97 for the first wicket, Cleethorpes spinners Alex Osmond and Harry Clewett did a superb job to restrict them when a score in excess of 250 looked likely. Alex Osmond recorded Yorkshire League best figures of 7/61 while Clewett kept the batsmen check with 1/56 as the pair bowled unchanged for 42 overs. Despite losing Eddie Carlton (1) early, Bill Kirby and Peter Fulton added 40 for the second wicket with the Kiwi in dominant mood smashing three fours and three sixes on his way to 35 in 30 balls before miss-hitting to cover off a ball that kept low. Cleethorpes slipped to 62-4 when Judah (1) and Osmond (0) soon followed before a 62 run fifth wicket stand between Kirby and stand in Skipper Charlie Tomlinson (38) brought Cleethorpes back into the game. When he departed with the score on 124 the game could have swung either way but James Windeatt produced a gem of an innings hitting an unbeaten 42 in 49 balls as he and Kirby took Cleethorpes to their target. Kirby finished unbeaten on 48 having carried his bat facing 122 deliveries on a slow low pitch to give Cleethorpes a memorable win.

James Windle gets in on the act.

Alex Osmond traps Bansil LBW.

With both Alex Osmond and Andy Ellis unavailable for the trip to York, Cleethorpes' task was always going to be that much harder against the league leaders who boast a formidable batting line up. And so it proved as York racked up a mammoth 344-7 declared in 51 overs. Ex-Lincs batsman Simon Mason crashed a century in just 50 balls with Aussie Pro Dan Wilson hitting 151 in 158 balls as Cleethorpes’ bowlers struggled to find the answer on a feather bed wicket with short boundaries. To their credit they kept going to the end and Peter Fulton, who had bowled some 24 overs, gained some late reward to pick up 4/107. Jack Harrison also picked up two wickets at the death to record 2/65 in 10 with Nathan Judah the other wicket taker with only his second delivery. In reply Cleethorpes got off to a promising start with Carlton (36) and Kirby adding 65 for the first wicket before Carlton was trapped in front. A tired Fulton hit 14 but the middle-order put up little resistance to York’s spinners as they slipped to 166-9. Kirby was sixth man out running himself out for a fine 84 (109 balls) and it took some late hitting from Harrison (25) to drag Cleethorpes up to their final total of 186 to leave York winners by a massive 158 runs.

Bill Kirkby sweeps at York.


Back-to-back defeats saw Paul Sunley’s 2nd X1 slip further down the Lincs Premier league and also out of the George Marshall Trophy after losing against Scunthorpe and Bracebridge Heath 2nds respectively. Injured 1st X1 skipper James Osmond opened the batting against Scunthorpe in a pinch-hitting role that worked to perfection as he plundered 133 in just 109 balls including 17 fours and 4 sixes. Rob Griffin chipped in with 31 with Gary Cowlam hitting a late 26 to take Meggies to 246-7 in their 50 overs. However this was not enough as Ex-Cleethorpes player Simon Kiddle also added a ton as Scunthorpe romped home in the 48th over. Paul Sunley was the pick of the attack with 2/29 in 8 while Rob Brice took 1/41 in six. They were to suffer more disappointment the following day when they travelled to Lincoln for the quarter final of the George Marshall Trophy against Bracebridge. Batting first they made 187-9 in their 45 overs with Sunley hitting 54 while Rob Griffin made 29 and Rich Griffin 27. An invaluable tenth wicket stand of 31 between Ryan Harrison and Stuart Harvey dragged Cleethorpes up to a competitive total. Deprived of their two opening bowlers to the first team, Cleethorpes put up a valiant fight and had Bracebridge eight down when they hit the winning runs. Sunley picked up 2/22 in his nine overs with Harvey taking 2/39 in his nine. Rob Griffin added 3/56 in nine as Cleethorpes battled all the way but Bracebridge closed out the game in the 38th over.
Cleethorpes' 3rd X1 remain in relegation trouble after a six-wicket defeat at Alford on Saturday. They made only 120-7 in their 45 overs which Alford took 28.3 overs to reach for the loss of four wickets. Dan Tolson (29), Sturat Harvey (21) and Martin Twyman (20) all got starts but it was left to skipper Paul Hewstone (34no) to take Cleethorpes to their first batting point. Alford had little trouble reaching their target but were held up by Jeff Todd 3/35 in 13 overs while Harvey took the other wicket.
Mirroring the 3rd X1, Cleethorpes 4ths remain second bottom of the Second Division after another poor display at Caistor 2nds. Batting first they set 127-7 in their 45 overs. Bob Leafe, hampered by a hamstring injury made a brave 51 with only Jack Gibson (29no) and Mike Shelton (15) adding support. In reply Caistor cantered to victory in the 36th over for the loss of three wickets. Mike Shelton produced a good spell to record 2/49 in 16 overs while Sam Would chipped in with 1/7 in two overs.
To compound a poor weekend for Cleethorpes, their North Lindsey side went down by 62 runs at home to Scunthorpe Town on Sunday. Chasing Scunthorpe’s 205-9 in 40 overs, Cleethorpes ran out of steam to finish 143 all out in the 40th over. Matty Owen recorded season’s best figures of 5/48 in 12 fiery overs to keep Scunthorpe in check and Tom Latimer added a useful 1/16 in six overs. John Mansfield hit a fine 50 to give Cleethorpes hope while Reece Holberry produced some late fireworks in hitting 26 not out.

THIS WEEKEND

After five successive away games, Cleethorpes' 1st X1 finally return home when they face Sheffield United at Chichester Road this Saturday (12 Noon Start). Cleethorpes' 2nds travel to Appleby Frodingham in the Lincs Premier league on Sunday. Paul Hewstone and Kris Richardson 3rd and 4th X1s have important games at Scothern and home to Market Rasen (Stamford Club 1.30pm start) respectively this Saturday. Rounding off the weekend are the North and East Lindsey sides who are both in action on Sunday. Top of the table, the North Lindsey X1 face Marshalls of Gainsborough (2pm Start) with the Academy X1 entertaining Friskney at the Stamford Club (2pm).